St Ives  ·  Cornwall  ·  Since 2002

SHANTY BABA'SLantern GhostStorywalk

...the darker side of St Ives

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Storyteller Behind the Oscar-Shortlisted Film The Pearl Comb

"The highlight of our trip"

As darkness falls over St Ives, acclaimed storyteller Shanty Baba lights his hurricane lantern and leads you into the shadows.

Follow him through haunted graveyards, spooky alleyways and the hidden corners of this ancient Cornish fishing town — where smugglers, restless spirits and dark deeds have left their mark for centuries.

Hear terrifying tales, macabre mysteries and the haunted histories that St Ives keeps close to its chest.

This is not a jump-scare ghost tour.
This is authentic Cornish storytelling by hurricane lantern.

See It For Yourself

Step Into the Shadows

See what awaits you on Cornwall's most celebrated ghost walk.

What People Say

Cornwall's Most Celebrated Ghost Walk

4.7
★★★★★
342 Reviews
Tripadvisor · Travellers Choice 2025
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★★★★★

One of the biggest and most memorable highlights of our trip. Shanty's storytelling transported us through time and dimensions. He cast such a spell. On the night we booked it was thunder and lightning — and as Shanty told the tales the lightning forked over the sea in the background. We were absolutely enchanted.

Tripadvisor · August 2025
★★★★★

Having never done a Ghost Walk before we weren't totally sure what to expect — but by the end we were all talking about when we could do another one. Shanty is extremely engaging and the way he tells the stories is genuinely brilliant.

Jetsetters76 · Bedford · Tripadvisor · December 2025
Everything You Need to Know

The Walk

Every walk is led by Shanty himself — no hired guides, just one storyteller who has spent over twenty years learning the darker secrets of this ancient town. Routes vary depending on the season and the night, so no two walks are ever quite the same.

Meeting Point Westcott's Quay, TR26 2DY
120m behind the RNLI Lifeboat House, along the seawall toward the train station, by the St Ives Arts Club benches near Blas Burger Restaurant
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Duration Approximately 75 minutes
Price Adults £10  ·  Under 16s £8
Minimum age 8 years
Booking Online only — book below
Numbers are limited — book early to avoid disappointment
Season Runs throughout the year
Weather Walks go ahead in almost all weathers
If cancelled you will be informed by text and email
Accessibility Some routes involve hills and steps
Contact Shanty if you have any concerns
Groups Private group bookings available
Contact Shanty to discuss
Cancellations Full refund for cancellations made more than 24 hours before the start of the walk
Contact Shanty via WhatsApp 07986 123305

There's a reason locals and visitors return year after year. Join the circle — and let Shanty Baba show you the St Ives that darkness keeps hidden. Dare you follow the lantern?

Where to Find Us

Meeting Point: Westcott's Quay · TR26 2DY · St Ives · Cornwall

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Ready to Step Into
the Shadows?

Numbers are limited on every walk. Book online now to secure your place on Cornwall's most celebrated ghost walk.

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Shanty Baba leading the Lantern Ghost Storywalk St Ives
Your Guide

Shanty Baba

Shanty Baba has been St Ives' professional storyteller since 2001 — making him one of the longest-established storytelling guides in Cornwall. He has led the Lantern Ghost Storywalk since 2002, accumulating over two decades of intimate knowledge of the darker side of St Ives.

Credited storyteller behind the Oscar-shortlisted short film The Pearl Comb (2026), Shanty's expertise goes far beyond local history. He spent a year living in a cave in India with an Aghori Tantric yogi — an experience that gave him a direct understanding of the shadow worlds his stories inhabit. He has appeared on television and radio, and is the creator and custodian of the Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton Museum in St Ives.

When Shanty tells a ghost story, he is drawing on a lifetime of genuine encounter with the strange, the hidden and the unexplained.

Visit the full Shanty Baba world →
Questions

Before You Come

Is it suitable for children?
Children from age 8 upwards generally love the Lantern Ghost Storywalk. The stories are atmospheric and genuinely chilling, but Shanty pitches them carefully for mixed audiences. Children are among the most enthusiastic participants — just be prepared for them to talk about it for days afterwards.
What happens in bad weather?
In the vast majority of conditions the walk goes ahead — a little Cornwall rain is all part of the atmosphere. On the rare occasion a walk needs to be cancelled due to genuinely severe weather, you will be informed by text and email and we will do our best to rearrange.
How much walking is involved?
The walk lasts around 75 minutes, though not all of that time is walking — Shanty stops to tell stories along the way. St Ives is a hilly town and some routes involve hills and steps, but the pace is leisurely. If you have mobility concerns, contact Shanty in advance for advice on which route is best for you.
Do you do private group bookings?
Yes — private group bookings and private parties are available. Please contact Shanty by email or phone to discuss your requirements.
Get in Touch

Contact Shanty

For group bookings, private events or any questions about the walks — get in touch directly. For individual bookings, please use the online booking system.

shantybaba@aol.com

07986 123305 (WhatsApp)

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